Chapter 92

Brandon's harsh tone had already left Ari shaken.

Even as Ari's sobs grew louder and filled the car, Brandon showed no sign of stopping.

"Stop the car!" Millie demanded.

Yet,Brandon pressed on, the vehicle hurtling forward.

"Brandon!"

Finally, she pulled Ari into a comforting embrace, gently stroking her back.

"Ari has a congenital heart condition. A defect she's had since birth," Millie explained, her voice trembling,eyes red-rimmed. "Are you trying to kill her?"

Having already endured the loss of two children, she was resolute: nothing would happen to Ari.

Upon hearing this, Brandon's gaze flickered to the rearview mirror, where he saw Ari truly distraught.

His jaw tightened. He slowly eased his foot off the accelerator, guiding the car to the side of the road.

Catching sight of Millie's tear-filled eyes in the mirror, Brandon's grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Millie said nothing more. She simply unbuckled her seatbelt, scooped Ari into her arms, and stepped out of the car.

Regret washed over her. She should never have succumbed to Brandon's threats and allowed Ar into his car.

Had she stood firm, Ari wouldn't have been subjected to such terror.

"Millie!" Brandon called after her.

Millie ignored him, hailing a taxi and directing the driver to Crobert Hospital.

Brandon, however, wasn't so easily deterred. He shadowed them from a distance.

Watching the Maybach trailing in the taxi's rearview mirror, Millie felt a mix of anger toward Brandon and frustration with herself.

She looked down at Ari, gently patting her back.

"How are you feeling now, Ari? Are you uncomfortable?" Millie asked, her voice laced with concern.

Ari wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm okay," Ari murmured, shaking her head.

"If you feel unwell, you must tell me," Millie urged softly.

Ari nodded and then curled into Millie's embrace, falling silent.

Ari was lost in thought, remembering the past.

Though children's memories often fade quickly, she vividly recalled the fight right before her biological parents abandoned her.

This time, however, was different. Millie was here for her.

Nestled in Millie's arms, Ari felt a sense of security.

The taxi pulled up directly to the hospital entrance.

Giffard was already waiting outside.

The moment he spotted Millie and Ari, he rushed forward.

He also noticed Brandon parking and getting out of his car just behind them.

As Brandon approached, Millie handed Ari to Giffard and then turned to face Brandon alone.

"Millie,"Brandon said, hurrying over, a deep frown etched on his face. "I didn't know Ari had a congenital heart condition."

Millie met his gaze. "Whatever her condition is, you shouldn't be yelling in front of a child."

Brandon offered no argument. They simply stood there, locked in a tense stare.

Since their last encounter, their interactions had always been laced with tension, leaving Brandon

feeling utterly helpless.

A gentle breeze stirred the air. Finally, Brandon broke the silence. "What's really going on between you and Charles?"

Millie closed her eyes, exhaustion washing over her.

"There's nothing between us," she said. "I thought you'd seen the statement online."

Millie knew Eugene would have kept him fully informed.

So why was he here, making things even more difficult for her?

Her stance, she believed, was already abundantly clear-from ignoring his calls and texts to rejecting him outright at Moonlit Estate.

Not far off, Ari refused to leave without Millie.

Millie, unwilling to prolong the argument,turned to leave.

"Wait," Brandon said, reaching out to grab her hand. "I still have questions."

Millie sharply pulled her hand away.

"I told you-I'm only here for Ari's check-up. She needs surgery," Millie said, her voice cold.

But Brandon stepped into her path, blocking the way.

Ari continued to watch.

A dull throb crept into Millie's temples.

"In a few days, I'll be at Babette's wine tasting. If you still have questions, ask me there," she said,locking eyes with him. "Don't push me into hating you."

Then,without waiting for a response, she moved past him and walked over to Ari and Giffard.

Brandon wanted to stop her, to say something-anything--but her words echoed relentlessly in his mind.

He turned to watch them go, his emotions raging within him.

How had things gotten this bad?

Millie could feel his eyes on her.

Whether it was Ari's frequent glances over her shoulder or thefaint tension in the air, Millie knew Brandon was still watching.

She sighed and pushed the thought aside.

Whatever this was, it wouldn't last. Once the divorce papers were finalized, they'd be done-nothing left to tie them together.

Giffard observed them quietly, a swirl of emotions turning in his chest.

He'd seen the gossip about Millie and Charles.

He knew Millie wasn't interested in Charles-not romantically. She never led people on.

But being a man himself, Giffard could tell that Charles definitely had feelings for Millie.

And if he was being honest, a sliver of jealousy had taken root. He secretly hoped he could be by her side like Charles did.

Even so, he wished her happiness.

His gaze shifted to Ari, who had leaned her head against Millie's shoulder. Gently, he said,"Ari,you'll come with me for your check-up now, okay? If anything feels off,just tell me."

Ari turned and looked upo at him with wide, trusting eyes.

"Okay. Thank you," she replied softly.

The check-ups followed.

When the tests were done, Millie took Ari home.

They cooked dinner together, ate, and curled up on the sofa to watch cartoons. Ari love it.

They watched until the sky turned dark. When it was time to send Ari back, the girl seemed hesitant throughout the drive, glancing at Millie over and over.

Millie could see the question forming on her lips.

"What is it, Ari?" Millie asked, parking the car and turning to the girl.

Ari's voice was barely above a whisper. "That man today... who was he? He seemed to know you."

Millie didn't answer right away. She looked into Ari's eyes, so big and earnest.

Outside, a breeze rustled the leaves.

The streetlights cast a soft glow over passersby, their laughter drifting into the stillness of the car. It al felt strangely distant.

Should she tell Ari the truth?

After a moment, she nodded to herself.

Ari would be living with her soon. The past wouldn't stay buried. Besides, Brandon might show up again.

And Ari wasn't like most children-she understood more than people gave her credit for.

So Millie reached for her hand and said, "He's my husband."

Ari blinked in surprise. "But in nine days, we'll be officially divorced," Millie added gently. "You don't have to worry about him."

She smoothed Ari's hair with a quiet sigh. "Sometimes, we make mistakes. He was one of them. But I'm doing my best to make things right, and I promise, he won't be a part of our lives. We're going to be okay."